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Besh the best in Princess Margaret

3 minute read

Besharah landed a deserved Group-race success when claiming the Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes at Ascot.

The William Haggas-trained filly was an authoritative winner of this Group Three heat following good runs in both the Queen Mary and Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.

Kassia made the running, but Besharah (15-8 favourite) was always travelling well for Pat Cosgrave and went into the lead with the minimum of fuss. She went on to score by three lengths from Great Page.

Cosgrave said: "She's done it well as it was a bit of an unknown on this ground. She's relaxing more in her races, which is good."

Maureen Haggas, wife of the trainer, said: "I think she's pretty useful. Her form is pretty strong, but the worry was obviously the ground.

"She's a real two-year-old - she's strong and she loves racing.

"She's done nothing but improve. There's nothing better than having a good two-year-old - they seem to just sail through.

"She's not going to be a big, scopey three-year-old - this is probably her year."

Bruce Raymond, racing manager for Besharah's owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, said: "We were obviously a bit concerned about the ground because she had never raced on it before and we didn't know if she would go through it.

"I imagine we will go to York for the Lowther then on to the Cheveley Park."

Richard Hannon said of the runner-up and the third horse home, Whatdoiwantthatfor: "Great Page ran very well and she looks like she wants further, so we'll go seven furlongs with her next.

"Whatdoiwantthatfor might go back to five furlongs. Something like the Roses Stakes at York could be for her."